Principal Kalin Cross

Dear Pirate Families,

Spring is here, and with it comes a busy and exciting season at PHS. We are wrapping up the current year while also planning ahead for next year, which means there is a lot happening all at once! We want to make sure you feel informed and supported through it all, so we wanted to send another communication. For our seniors and their families, we will also be sending a separate “All for Seniors” communication with everything needed for the final stretch. I hope you find the information you need here!

With gratitude,

Kalin Cross

Proud Principal

December 2025-January 2026

Dear Pirate Families,

I hope this message finds you well! As the weather turns colder and we settle into the heart of the school year, our campus feels full of focus, warmth, and Pirate Pride. Students are engaged in meaningful learning and they are ready to maximize the next few weeks before a well-deserved winter break. Winter athletics and activities are in full swing, and we're excited to have such awesome students representing PHS at competitions throughout the state.

The latest issue of The Pirate Compass includes key information about upcoming progress reports, the end of the quarter/semester, conferences and updates on our attendance goals. We hope these updates help you stay connected to your student’s learning as we move into the heart of the school year.

With gratitude,

Kalin Cross

Proud Principal

October 30, 2025

Fall has arrived at PHS, and with it comes a sense of rhythm and connection across our school community. The year has had a strong start: classrooms have been buzzing with learning, our athletes and performers are representing us with pride, and our students continue to grow in every way. As we move toward the end of the first quarter and the beginning of the second, here’s a look at what’s been happening and what’s coming next.

With gratitude,

Kalin Cross

Proud Principal

August 7, 2025

Hello Pirate Families,
I hope you’re enjoying a restful and joyful summer. As we gear up for the new school year, I’m thrilled to welcome back all of our returning students and families — and to offer a warm welcome aboard to those joining the Pirate Ship for the first time. We’re so glad you’re here!

At Phoenix High School, we remain deeply committed to creating a safe, inclusive, and rigorous learning environment where every student can thrive. Our goal is to graduate students who are not only academically prepared but also ready to confidently take their next steps in the world.

We know that strong school-family partnerships are key to student success. This year, we’re continuing to prioritize open communication and meaningful engagement through texts, phone calls, meetings, parent-teacher conferences, and school-wide events. Please know our doors are always open — your feedback and voice matter deeply, and we are here to support your student every step of the way.

Please join us for our in-person Welcome Event: 11 & 12th Graders on August 19th from 12-6 pm, 9th & 10th grade students on August 20th from 12-6 pm. If you’re unable to make your students assigned session, you can join us for a make up session on August 21 from 1-4 pm. At this event, students will pick up their class schedules, take their yearbook/student body photo, and get ready for a great year ahead!

More details will be included in the back-to-school letter, which you should receive soon. Before attending our Welcome Event, please be sure to complete online registration through the Phoenix-Talent Schools website. The process is quick and simple, and our office is happy to help if you run into any trouble — just give us a call at 541-535-1526. Completing this step before the in-person event will help you breeze through the process.

Let’s work together to make this a memorable, meaningful, and successful school year. Enjoy these final weeks of summer — we look forward to seeing you soon!

With gratitude,

Kalin Cross
Principal | Phoenix High School

January 10, 2025

Happy New Year, Pirate Families!

We hope this communication finds you and your family well. After a restful break, we are kicking things into high gear and starting 2025 out with some great things here at PHS! Our winter sports and activities seasons are in full swing. If you haven’t seen what the Pirates are up to on social media, please give us a follow on Facebook and Instagram! You can see how well our students are representing PHS across the valley and state! We are so proud of them!

We have just a few short weeks left in Semester 1, so we are encouraging students to finish strong! Teachers are updating PowerSchool weekly, so please log in and give those grades a lookover. Be sure to reach out to teachers if you have any questions or concerns about your student’s grade! The semester ends on Thursday, 1/23. Teacher in-service is on 1/24, so there is no school that Friday and we will start 3rd Quarter on Monday, 1/27.

Ringing in 2025 means that we are moving even closer to celebrating the graduation of this year’s senior class. This year, we will host our commencement ceremony on Saturday, June 7th at 4 PM here at the Jack Woodward Stadium. More details will follow regarding important dates/deadlines for the class of 2025, so stay tuned for those. 

With the start of 2nd semester, we are also entering testing season. At PHS, we take state testing seriously, and view it as an opportunity to show what we know! Since we have been spending time in classrooms learning content and skills tied to state standards, we are excited about the opportunity for students to demonstrate proficiency. In Oregon, high school students participate in state testing in their junior/11th grade year. For more information, please see the following documents: ENG | ESP

Lastly, I wanted to let you know that my family welcomed a new member through foster care in December and I have been taking time to help my family adjust and bond with the new baby. The team here has everything covered, and I am here intermittently, so please don’t hesitate to reach out if you need something. 

Thank you, 

Kalin Cross

Proud Principal

Phoenix High School

October 24, 2024

Dear Pirate Families,

I hope this message finds you well as we settle into the heart of the school year! October is such a special time, and we’ve just wrapped up an incredible Homecoming week. I want to take a moment to reflect on the success of Homecoming and share a few important updates.

Homecoming Success!

Homecoming was an absolute hit! From the rally to the parade, and of course, the Homecoming Dance, I was blown away by the spirit and involvement of our students, staff, and families. It was wonderful to see so many smiling faces, showing school pride, and coming together as a community! Special thanks to our leadership, staff, and volunteers who worked tirelessly to make the week such a memorable one. I want to also thank our color guard for hosting our homecoming dance.  These traditions are part of what makes PHS such a vibrant and welcoming place.

The Importance of Attendance

As we move further into the quarter, I want to stress the importance of consistent attendance. Regular attendance is key to academic success and personal growth. When students miss school, they miss out on valuable learning experiences, class discussions, and the opportunity to connect with their peers and teachers. We understand that things like illness and emergencies happen, but whenever possible, please prioritize getting your student to school on time each day. If you need any support with attendance-related concerns, don’t hesitate to reach out to our office.

At PHS we believe that communication between home school and families is the key to our student's success. We ask, when possible, to please call the attendance office before 8:40 a.m. to let us know your child will not be at school for the day. You may also leave a phone message for us at any time 541-535-4456.  

Phoenix High School will use the following parameters when marking an absence as an Excused Absence: 

• Illness, including mental and behavioral health of the student 
• Medical or health care appointments 
• Emergencies that require the student’s absence 
• Religious holidays and instruction 
• School-sponsored activity 
• Other reasons deemed appropriate by the school administrator when advance satisfactory arrangements have been made with the school

A Call to Serve: Join Our School Site Council!

We are looking for parent and community volunteers to join our School Site Council. This is a fantastic opportunity to be involved in shaping the future of Phoenix High School. The School Site Council plays an important role in developing our school’s goals, reviewing data, and helping guide decisions about programs and resources. Your voice and input are invaluable, and we would love to have more diverse perspectives represented. This year, if you're interested in serving on the council, please contact our office for more information. Meetings are held monthly, and your participation would truly make a difference.

We’re looking for your feedback!

Will you take a few minutes to fill out this survey? We’re gathering information on how we can better serve students and families in our community, and the information you provide will help us shape those goals.

Coming Soon: Conferences:

Save the dates for conferences! We will be sharing more information on what you can expect and how to sign up for conferences soon!

Families of Seniors: What’s Coming Up?

As we hit our stride in your student’s last year of high school, we want to make sure you know about how to get involved in an over 40-year tradition, Grad Night! Our first meeting will be on

11/6 at 6 PM in the PHS Library. This is the committee’s first meeting, so all are welcome to get involved!

Thank you for your continued support of our school community. I am so proud of all that we’ve accomplished together so far this year, and I look forward to what’s to come.

Kalin Cross

Principal, Phoenix High School

July 2024

Hello Pirate Families,

I hope this message finds you well and that you are having a restful and enjoyable summer break. As we prepare for the upcoming school year, we are very excited to welcome students back on campus. Information on our Welcome Back Event is coming to your mailbox soon, and we can’t wait to kick start a great year! 

In addition to our upcoming event, I wanted to remind you of our new cell phone policy that will be implemented this year: Cell Phone usage on the Phoenix High School campus will be limited;  Students must keep cell phones silenced and away in a backpack or locker during instruction and passing period times. Students will be allowed to use cell phones before the first bell of the day, during breakfast break, lunch break, and after the last school bell rings. At all other times, cell phones will be silenced and in a backpack or locker.  

As previously stated in a letter I sent out in June, we believe that this updated policy will help reduce distractions, enhance student engagement, and create a more positive culture and climate for PHS students. We also know that limited cell phone usage has created a positive impact on mental health and social dynamics for teens.

We appreciate your support and cooperation in our adoption of this new policy and ask that you chat with your student about it.  You can also support this policy by saving our main office number (541-535-1526) and using it to connect with your student if you need to connect during instructional hours. I think it is also important to note that we have added office support to help with the expected increase in phone calls. Additionally, here is a copy of our 2024-25 Bell Schedule so you know when your student is in class.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding the new cell phone policy, please do not hesitate to contact me. I’d be glad to answer any questions you may have and to address any of your concerns. 

Thank you for your attention to this important update. We look forward to a successful and productive school year ahead. With gratitude, 

Kalin Cross

Principal, Phoenix High School

June 2024

Hello Pirate Families!

I hope this letter finds you well! Before I depart for summer break, I wanted to share that PHS is making a change to the cell phone policies and procedures on campus. 

Cell Phone usage on the Phoenix High School campus will be limited;  Students must keep cell phones silenced and away in a backpack or locker during instruction and passing period times. Students will be allowed to use cell phones before the first bell of the day, during breakfast break, lunch break, and after the last school bell rings. At all other times, cell phones will be silenced and in a backpack or locker.  

This is a change from previous years when teachers set individual cell phone policies in their classrooms. You may be asking, why this shift? Truth be told, there are several reasons. 

• Students have consistently communicated that they are worried about the mental health of their peers. 

• Our staff has suggested that cell phones are a major distraction to student engagement in the classroom. 

• Parents have reported that they struggle to limit screen time for their teens. 

We know that this is not a change for our incoming 9th-grade students. Please help support this policy by saving our main office number and using it to connect with your students during instructional hours. We have added office support to help with the increase in phone calls.

Main office number: 541-535-1526

Here is a copy of our 2024-2025 Bell Schedule so you know when your student is in class:

2024-25 Bell Schedule.

We understand this is quite a change and may require some adjustment for our students and families. However, we firmly believe that this policy will greatly benefit our school community by fostering a more productive and respectful learning environment. Look forward to more details about this change coming this summer.

Thank you for your support and cooperation as we implement these changes. Should you have any questions or concerns, I’d love to connect. With gratitude, 

Kalin Cross

Principal, Phoenix High School